Best institutions to study Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services
Any instructional program in administrative and secretarial services not listed above.
24 U.S. institutions graduated 290 Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.0499, a specialization of Business Operations Support and Assistant Services (CIP 52.04), and leads most directly to the Business Operations Specialists, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 13-1199).
About Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services programs
Any instructional program in administrative and secretarial services not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services program is designed for individuals seeking to develop skills in administrative and secretarial services within the business sector. This program falls under the broader category of Business Operations Support and Assistant Services and prepares students for a variety of roles in business environments.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in administrative practices, office management, and support services essential for effective business operations. Coursework typically includes topics related to communication, organization, and technology use in business settings.
Credentials awarded
What Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree123 graduates / yr · 15 institutions42%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year112 graduates / yr · 13 institutions39%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years28 graduates / yr · 9 institutions9.7%
- Award of less than 12 weeks27 graduates / yr · 1 institution9.3%
Graduates over time
Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2,196 |
| 2013 | 1,771 |
| 2014 | 1,957 |
| 2015 | 1,116 |
| 2016 | 778 |
| 2017 | 632 |
| 2018 | 535 |
| 2019 | 475 |
| 2020 | 401 |
| 2021 | 375 |
| 2022 | 418 |
| 2023 | 342 |
| 2024 | 368 |
| 2025 | 290 |
Top 24 institutions for Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 42 | 30% | — | — |
| 2 | North Idaho College Coeur d'Alene, IDPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 30 | 38% | — | — |
| 3 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 30 | 32% | — | $35,687 |
| 4 | Wytheville Community College Wytheville, VAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 26 | 47% | — | — |
| 5 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke, VAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 23 | 40% | — | — |
| 6 | Southside Virginia Community College Alberta, VAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 20 | 42% | — | $18,788 |
| 7 | Danville Community College Danville, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 14 | 39% | — | — |
| 8 | New River Community College Dublin, VAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 50% | — | — |
| 9 | Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap, VAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 13 | 48% | — | — |
| 10 | Employment Solutions - College for Technical Education Lexington, KYPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 63% | $19,115 | — |
| 11 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 11 | 70% | $24,569 | — |
| 12 | Mountain Gateway Community College Clifton Forge, VAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 38% | — | — |
| 13 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald Hohenwald, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 6 | 65% | — | — |
| 14 | Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton, VAPublicAssociate's | 6 | 34% | — | $34,177 |
| 15 | Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville, VAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 42% | — | — |
| 16 | Bristol Community College Fall River, MAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 22% | — | — |
| 17 | Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJPublicAssociate's | 4 | — | — | — |
| 18 | Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 4 | 45% | — | — |
| 19 | Virginia Highlands Community College Abingdon, VAPublicAssociate's | 4 | 40% | — | — |
| 20 | Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 40% | — | — |
| 21 | Paul D Camp Community College Franklin, VAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 36% | — | — |
| 22 | Rappahannock Community College Glenns, VAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3 | 45% | — | — |
| 23 | Eastern Wyoming College Torrington, WYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 52% | — | — |
| 24 | Clark State College Springfield, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 2 | 22% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Business Operations Support and Assistant Services field (CIP 52.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 10 states
Where Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services graduates come from. Each state links to all Business Operations Support and Assistant Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 15 | 176 | Tidewater Community College30 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 42 | Louisiana Delta Community College42 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 30 | North Idaho College30 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 12 | Employment Solutions - College for Technical Education12 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 11 | Dordt University11 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 6 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald6 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 4 | Bristol Community College4 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 4 | Thomas Edison State University4 / yr |
| Wyoming | 1 | 3 | Eastern Wyoming College3 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 2 | Clark State College2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 13-1199, Business Operations Specialists, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services program can pursue careers as Business Operations Specialists and other related roles. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 3.0% and approximately 108,200 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $81,270, with a typical education requirement of a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.0499
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Business Operations Specialists, All Otherprimary SOC 13-1199 | $83,050 | +3.0% About as fast as average | ~108,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Related careers
Other Business Operations Support and Assistant Services specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Business Operations Support and Assistant Services (CIP 52.04).
- Administrative Assistant and Secretarial ScienceCIP 52.04017,104 graduates / yr413 institutions
- Customer Service Support/CIP 52.0411
Call Center/ Teleservice Operation 2,464 graduates / yr37 institutions - Business/CIP 52.0407
Office Automation/ Technology/ Data Entry 2,124 graduates / yr113 institutions - General Office Occupations and Clerical ServicesCIP 52.04081,140 graduates / yr114 institutions
- Executive Assistant/CIP 52.0402
Executive Secretary 1,118 graduates / yr69 institutions - Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/CIP 52.0410
Technician partial data314 graduates / yr4 institutions - Parts, Warehousing, and Inventory Management OperationsCIP 52.0409partial data242 graduates / yr7 institutions
- ReceptionistCIP 52.040697 graduates / yr15 institutions
See all Business Operations Support and Assistant Services programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, or an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 24 colleges in the U.S. offering this program.
What is the average number of graduates per year?+
Approximately 290 graduates complete this program each year in the U.S.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.0%.
What is the CIP code for Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services?+
Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services is CIP 52.0499 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Business Operations Support and Assistant Services (CIP 52.04). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in administrative and secretarial services not listed above.
How many institutions offer Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services programs?+
24 U.S. institutions reported Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 290 credentials in the year. That is 1.9% of all Business Operations Support and Assistant Services graduates.
How much do Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Business Operations Specialists, All Other occupation, which Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services most directly leads to, pays a median of $83,050 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Business Operations Support and Assistant Services field report median earnings of $34,177 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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